State Sen. Adriano Espaillat is scheduled to announce at noon Thursday that he will once again challenge 22-term Rep. Charles B. Rangel in New York's 13th District.

Rangel narrowly defeated Espaillat, another Democrat, in 2012. The New York state legislator's candidacy for the Harlem and Bronx-based district was widely expected. The two men faced off in a tough 2012 race . Rangel defeated Espaillat that year by fewer than 1,100 votes.

The June 24 primary will determine the heavily Democratic district’s next House member in all likelihood.

The race is rated Safe Democratic by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.